Israeli authorities on Monday evacuated the Ashdod port in southern Israel after an Israeli shipping container which arrived on a Chinese ship was detected to emit irregular radioactive radiation. By mid-afternoon, the port went back to normal operation. Israeli ports have installed advanced radioactive radiation systems in an effort to detect “dirty bombs” which terrorists may try to smuggle into Israel.

Israeli authorities on Monday evacuated the Ashdod port in southern Israel after an Israeli shipping container which arrived on a Chinese ship was detected to emit irregular radioactive radiation. By mid-afternoon, the port went back to normal operation.

Arutz Sheva reports that the container, which contained industrial iron, was immediately isolated for inspection, and a large forces of police, bomb disposal crews, firefighters, and EMS personnel was dispatched to the scene.

Experts from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) were also sent to examine the suspicious container.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection, after instructing that the container be transferred to remote area at the port, announced that the public was in no danger from the radiation.

By late afternoon, the Ashdod port authority announced that the hazardous materials protocol was followed, and that the incident involved “minimal levels” of radioactive material.

The port authority said that at no time was there a danger from the radiation outside of the container’s wall.

Arutz Sheva notes that Israeli ports have installed advanced radioactive radiation systems in an effort to detect “dirty bombs” which terrorists may try to smuggle into Israel.

Two years ago there was a similar incident, when a container was detected to be emitting radiation, but it was later discovered to be a false alarm.